I am trying my hand at having no processed foods to bring my body to better health and I will be eating a lot of salads for the next 8 weeks (cleansing diet) well i noticed how many calories and salt are in commercial salad dressings. So i thought i might ask you guys who are all into cooking and experimenting who might have some salad dressings that they enjoyed making. I have a couple but they're going to get old really quick

I've always liked the avocado salsa at El Pollo Loco, which is a chain of grilled chicken restaurants here in California. I wasn't able to find nutritional info on it, but I had read somewhere that it had 50 calories/tablespoon. Here's the recipe.

I have never been to their restaurants since i'm a vegetarian but i think i'm going to try that recipe with my friday taco salad dinner. The higher calories are most likely due to the avocado. i love avocados. thanks for the recipe

I have been scouring online for home made dressings. i found a few that i'm going to try. I really want to keep this as new and exciting as i can so i dont stop it before the 8 weeks is up.

If you want to make a sweet/sour viniagrette like I posted just substitute a pinch of cane sugar (the rich brown unrefined kind) for the honey. The balsamic vinegar is sweet on its own, but a teensy bit of sweetness added really brings out the fruity notes.

Also, here is one I make all the time. It involves dairy though. I get the good multiple active cultures organic plain yogurt, and add a packet of the herbal dip mix like you get in Whole Foods. I use it as a dipping sauce or thin it a bit with milk and have dressing. I think it's a healthier alternative to packaged dips and ranch dressing. I also like to dip chicken into it, coat in breadcrumbs and bake.

I am making the balsamic cilantro dressing asap. If something has cilantro in it, and limes too? I am ALL OVER it! I bet it would be an amazing marinade too.

If you want to make a sweet/sour viniagrette like I posted just substitute a pinch of cane sugar (the rich brown unrefined kind) for the honey. The balsamic vinegar is sweet on its own, but a teensy bit of sweetness added really brings out the fruity notes.

Also, here is one I make all the time. It involves dairy though. I get the good multiple active cultures organic plain yogurt, and add a packet of the herbal dip mix like you get in Whole Foods. I use it as a dipping sauce or thin it a bit with milk and have dressing. I think it's a healthier alternative to packaged dips and ranch dressing. I also like to dip chicken into it, coat in breadcrumbs and bake.

I am making the balsamic cilantro dressing asap. If something has cilantro in it, and limes too? I am ALL OVER it! I bet it would be an amazing marinade too.

Tracy

I'll try my hand at your recipe.. it might be good on my salad that i put some fruit in (the sweet of the fruit could mean omitting the honey or sugar)

The cilantro dressing is yummy and flavorful. i have actually made salads with primarily cilantro and romaine lettuce with tomatillos, black olives, avocado and that dressing without the cilantro. Most people poo poo the idea of cilantro as a lettuce type substitute in a salad but they always LOVE my salad

so far I'm doing well with salads for my main course. I'm coming down from my sugar addiction though.. i still crave mac n cheese big time but that will pass with time too.

When we were in Victoria last summer we went to this place that was recommended to us for fish and chips (deservedly). It came with a tossed green salad that had a yummy dressing. When we asked if we could buy it the waitress told uss how to make it.

I found this site which has several nice dressing recipes. My favourite is the classic balsamic one, I tend to make that at home all the time, although I do like honey and mustard, which is weird as normally I like neither honey nor mustard! They also have nice salad ideas here too.

OOOOOOOO good topic!
I remember my mom used to always make her own dressing when I was a kid- I thought it was called "Russian dressing" but she told me recently that it was home version of Catalina. I can't remember all the ingredients anymore but seems like it was only three..... mayo, lemon juice and something else...

Also, in this area, there are a lot of farms so the farmer's markets always have homemade dressings for sale. Some good stuff!

***All the recipes I read here seem to be "vinegarette" or vinegar and oil type of dressings
Does anyone have any for creamy type dressings?

__________________
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

"The longing of my heart is a fairy portrait of myself: I want to be pretty; I want to eliminate facts and fill up the gap with charms."

"See these eyes so green, I can stare for a thousand years, Colder than the moon
It's been so long and I've been putting out fire with gasoline"